The finger wagging bit was actually in my mind stealing it from a recent NYT article https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.nyt...rking.amp.html about “motivational interviewing” as opposed to lecturing patients. But you are correct that not all sermons include finger wagging and some orators can inspire change.

Still I’d guess most “Amen!” that which they already agree with most of the time.

I agree. Preachers can't afford to be too controversial. But they have a captive audience that's very receptive to what they have to say. They have the ability to sneak in harsh truths while also feeding people what they want to hear.
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